Should I Wear Socks To Bed With Athlete’s Foot?

Athlete’s foot is a highly contagious and painful disease that affects the upper skin layer of your foot.

Also known as tenia pedi, athlete’s foot is the result of a fungal infection caused by Trichophyton.

It is very easy to get and if you are not careful, the infection can spread to your partner or members of your family.

In this article, we are going to answer one of the most common questions that people have regarding athlete’s foot: Should I wear socks to bed with athlete’s foot?

The answer is, yes. Wearing socks to bed with athlete’s foot serves as a highly effective preventive measure.

Read on as we discuss the benefits of wearing socks to bed while you have athlete’s foot and ways in which you can treat this fungal infection.

The Benefits Of Wearing Socks To Bed With Athlete’s Foot

should i wear socks to bed with athlete's foot

In many cases, a person contracts athlete’s foot because they ended up walking barefoot into a locker room or a shower.

These places tend to be very humid and moist and provide an ideal environment for Trichophyton to grow.

If you have developed athlete’s foot then wearing socks can help prevent the transmission of the fungus onto other surfaces.

If you share a bed with someone, then your foot might brush against theirs while you sleep. This can cause the fungus to spread.

Wearing socks to bed can serve as an effective remedy here. Not only will your feet stay warm, but you can also protect your partner from getting athlete’s foot.

You must also avoid walking barefoot in the house while you have athlete’s foot. In this case, we suggest you wear sandals during the day.

This will prevent the fungus from getting transferred to another person.

A lot of people that ask about “Should I wear socks to bed with athlete’s foot” also tend to wonder if they should wear socks while walking barefoot during the day.

This may seem like a good preventive measure but wearing socks throughout the day is not advisable.

At some point, your feet are likely to become damp and sweaty, which can end up providing an ideal environment for the fungus to grow in.

We suggest you only wear socks when you go to bed.

Things You Need To Keep In Mind When Wearing Socks

should i wear socks to bed with athlete's foot

While wearing socks to bed is certainly useful for controlling the spread of athlete’s foot, it can also backfire if you don’t keep the following in mind:

  1. Make sure you wear a fresh pair of socks every day. Your socks must not be damp and sweaty. This can cause them to hold moisture which can aggravate the fungal infection.
  2. Wash your socks properly before reusing them. You must also make sure they are fully dry before putting them on.
  3. Avoid wearing synthetic socks. These do not let your feet breathe and can cause them to sweat. Once again, this is not helpful in controlling the infection. You can wear cotton socks. These are relatively airy and will keep your feet comfortable.
  4. Do not share your socks with another person. This applies to the rest of your clothes too. Even if you have washed them thoroughly, you must avoid sharing personal clothing items with another person while you have athlete’s foot. Given how contagious this infection can be, even the slightest amount of contact can allow the fungus to transmit to someone else.

Note: Besides washing your socks and personal clothing items, you must also wash your sheets, towels, slippers, and anything else you make contact with.

For instance, bath mats can be a potential source of infection, as well. You must also separate your towels and washcloths and ask your family members to use a different towel and washcloth.

This is essential for preventing cross-contamination.

Treating Athlete’s Foot

There are several ways to treat athlete’s foot. Let’s take a look at what these are:

a. Maintaining Foot Hygiene

should i wear socks to bed with athlete's foot

The first thing you need to do if you have athlete’s foot is to pay more attention to foot hygiene.

Washing your feet regularly can be very helpful for treating athlete’s foot. You must also dry your feet thoroughly after you wash them.

Make sure you dry the area between the toes too.

b. Use Antifungal Cream

should i wear socks to bed with athlete's foot

There are many over-the-counter medications available for treating athlete’s foot. You can try one of the following antifungal medications:

  • Tolnaftate
  • Clotrimazole
  • Terbinafine
  • Butenafine
  • Miconazole
  • Econazole
  • Ketoconazole
  • Naftifine
  • Sulconazole
  • Terconazole
  • Oxiconazole

You can apply these creams on the affected areas. As an additional treatment measure, you can also buy antifungal powder.

Use this for dusting your socks and shoes. The antifungal powder can prevent the fungus from growing.

It does this by stopping the fungus from producing something called ergosterol. This is an essential component of the cell membrane of a fungus.

When the fungus can no longer produce ergosterol, its cell membrane will develop holes. This can prevent the growth and spread of the fungus.

c. Get In Touch With A Foot Care Specialist

should i wear socks to bed with athlete's foot

In some cases, using over-the-counter medications may not work. Keep a close eye on your infection for two weeks.

If things don’t improve, then we suggest you get in touch with a foot care specialist in your area. This usually happens when the infection is too severe.

If your skin appears to be extremely red and itchy and develops blisters, then get in touch with a foot care specialist immediately.

If you have an underlying medical condition such as diabetes, then we suggest you skip using OTC medications and seek professional help.

In a Nutshell

 

should i wear socks to bed with athlete's foot

To sum it up, if you have been wondering “Should I wear socks to bed with athlete’s foot”, then, yes, you should.

However, we advise against keeping your feet covered with socks throughout the day. Wearing slippers or sandals is a better option.

You must also make sure to wear a fresh pair of socks every day and avoid sharing any clothing items, towels, or washcloths with another person while you have athlete’s foot.

Make sure you wash your socks thoroughly after each use and try to keep your feet clean and dry as much as possible.